t of the house,"
said Willie. "If we follow them on the road we could be seen and we
might be suspected. How can we trail them without being seen?"

They looked around. Higher up the slope ran another road, so hidden by
shrubbery and bushy growths as to be almost invisible from below. A
person walking along this road could easily follow one on the highway
below without being seen. A brief study of the slope also showed them
a bushy way by which they could scramble unseen up to this road.

Now they gave their undivided attention to the house before them,
studying every feature of house and grounds that they might be able, if
it became necessary, to make their way safely about the premises. But
no one came to the house, no one left it, no one appeared at a window,
and there was no sign whatever that a living being was in the house.

The minutes began to drag. It was uninteresting to sit and scrutinize
a house when there was so much of real interest to see. So between
glances at the home on the cliff, the scouts began to study anew the
wonderful harbor that so fascinated them.

Again they studied those distant sky-scrapers, which looked, at the
distance, like dream buildings, deceptive structures of the clouds.
The waters intervening were palpitant with life. As an hour passed,
and then another, the young watchers gave more and more attention to
the landscape and less to the house near by. The air was vibrant with
the tooting of whistles. The wind was sweeping the water before it in
graceful waves. The passing steamers churned it into yeasty foam.
Great sailing ships came surging in from the deeps, deck-laden with
heavy cargoes, parting the water with their high bows, their sails
bellying in the breeze and shining white in the sun. Tugs passed
restlessly to and fro, dragging behind them long strings of coal
barges. And once a great ocean liner came in through the Narrows,
making the very hills vibrate with the thunder of her whistle.
Intently the boys watched her as she slowed at quarantine and the port
physicians boarded her. By mere chance Willie turned his glance toward
the house on the cliff, and there, close to the front windows, stood a
man with field-glasses to his eyes, studying the liner in the Narrows
below.

"Look!" gasped Willie. "There's a man in the window!"

But before Roy could turn his head the figure had disappeared.

"We almost missed him," said Willie. "We're poor scouts to forge